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Muskies must limit mistakes

XU center Matt Stainbrook says “Coach (Chris) Mack has done a great job in practice, sort of explaining and showing through his emotions that this is a big game.”(Photo: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

The last time Xavier played Cincinnati in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Classic, Musketeers guard Semaj Christon left the court with leg cramps and logged just five second-half minutes in a 60-45 loss.

He’s been waiting all year for a rematch.

Christon, who actually circled the date on his calendar, said he’s expecting a good game when the rivals extend the series at 8 p.m. Saturday at U.S. Bank Arena.

“I know when I committed to Xavier, it was everything – playing against UC and being from Cincinnati. Now I just want to win. That’s all I care about,” Christon said. “I don’t care how we do it, I just want to get it done.”

The Musketeers (7-3) have won two games since returning from an 0-3 showing in the Battle 4 Atlantis and are about to face another dose of the Bearcats’ (7-1) full-court pressure. Last year Cincinnati amassed 19 points off Xavier’s 15 turnovers and harassed Christon and Dee Davis into a combined eight miscues.

Protecting the ball hasn’t exactly been the Musketeers’ strong suit of late. They’ve averaged 15.2 turnovers in the last five games, while UC has forced 21.6 turnovers and averaged 27.6 points off them in the same frame.

“It’s a good combination, isn’t it? A team that turns it over versus a team that turns you over,” Xavier coach Chris Mack said.

“We have to have really good floor spacing. We have to be tougher with the basketball. We have to meet our passes. And at the same time, we can’t play like we’re on a frozen pond and we’re waiting for the ice to cave in. We have to play in attack mode.”

Rebounding has been another tempestuous area for the Musketeers, which have lost the battle of the boards in four straight games. The disparity has affected Xavier’s ability to get out in transition, where it excels, and afforded opponents like Bowling Green a spate of second-chance opportunities.

Center Matt Stainbrook grabbed 15 of Xavier’s 35 rebounds in its most recent game against Evansville and will be among those at the forefront of tonight’s tussle on the glass. He has about two inches and 33 pounds on UC rebounding leader Justin Jackson, making for another interesting Classic subplot.

Mack said the Musketeers simply have to do a better job on the glass. Stainbrook is confident that he and the others will do just that.

“It’s something where communication, along with physicality, can be the key to fixing that issue,” Stainbrook said. “And we’ve done a lot of practice on making sure we’re talking through every drill and that we’re physical.”

Quite a few first-year Musketeers are about to play in their first Classic, from freshmen Myles Davis, Brandon Randolph, Jalen Reynolds and Kamall Richards to transfer Stainbrook. They’ve contributed to a more talented, deeper team than XU had a year ago.

The Musketeers could even gain a couple minutes from defensive specialist Landen Amos. The senior tore his lateral meniscus in November and underwent surgery, but returned to full practices this week.

The status of senior Erik Stenger (aggravated stomach) is a bit murkier. He practiced in limited fashion Friday.

Christon, who has been drinking water to avoid another recurrence of cramps, is more than ready for the Crosstown Classic. Ditto for Stainbrook.

“Coach Mack has done a great job in practice, sort of explaining and showing through his emotions that this is a big game, and if you can’t get excited for this one, you might not have a pulse,” Stainbrook said. ?